UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center, at 200 West Arbor Drive in San Diego, San Diego County, is part of UC San Diego Health and offers labor and delivery. This page is for families who had a baby there and are now facing hard questions: a newborn who needed the intensive care nursery, a diagnosis such as cerebral palsy or an arm nerve injury, or a mother who had a serious complication after delivery.
Nothing on this page says that anyone did anything wrong. Most babies born in California hospitals do well, and some birth injuries happen even when everyone does their job. Still, when a child has a lasting problem, parents deserve plain answers about what happened and what choices they have. Below we explain the medical terms, the usual warning signs, how an independent review of the records works, and where to find help for your child while you decide what to do.
This guide is written for parents and guardians, in English and Spanish. It is general information, not legal or medical advice about your child. Because Hillcrest is a University of California hospital, which is a public entity, some deadlines work differently than they do at a private hospital, so it is wise to read the legal sections below and talk with a lawyer early.
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At a glance: UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center
| Address | 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103 |
| County | San Diego County |
| Health system / operator | UC San Diego Health (The Regents of the University of California) |
| Type of hospital | University of California hospital (public entity) |
| Newborns in 2024 | 581 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 40 |
| NICU level | Level II |
| Main phone | 858-249-5534 |
| Hospital website | health.ucsd.edu |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at UC San Diego Health Hillcrest in San Diego
According to UC San Diego Health's own pregnancy and birth page, families can choose a traditional labor and delivery setting at both Hillcrest and Jacobs Medical Center in La Jolla, and the Hillcrest section describes private labor and delivery rooms. The page lists 619-543-7878 for Hillcrest; please use the number printed on your own discharge papers if it differs. Hillcrest Medical Center is at 200 West Arbor Drive in San Diego, and the state's hospital report lists it as a University of California hospital, with The Regents of the University of California as the parent organization.
For babies who need extra care, the hospital's page describes a Level II Intermediate NICU for babies who need short-term intensive care after birth. It describes a Level III NICU at Jacobs Medical Center for babies with critical and more complex medical needs. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), Hillcrest has 40 licensed intensive-care newborn beds, recorded 93 NICU discharges in 2024, and cared for 581 newborns in its newborn nursery that year.
If your baby was moved from one unit or hospital to another after birth, you may have more than one set of records, one for the delivery and one for each place your child was treated. Keeping track of where your baby was and when helps any later review. That is the kind of detail a family can start writing down now, while memories are fresh.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain injury caused by too little oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. Babies with HIE may be limp, may have seizures, or may have trouble breathing and feeding. For eligible babies, doctors often use whole-body or head cooling, which research funded by the National Institutes of Health has linked to fewer deaths and less severe disability, and which has to start within the first hours of life. A brain MRI in the first days can help show how much the brain was affected.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture. The CDC explains that most CP begins before or during birth, that the exact cause is often unknown, and that oxygen loss during birth now appears to account for only a small share of cases. That is why a CP diagnosis, by itself, does not tell a family why it happened, and why a careful record review matters.
Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries happen when the nerves running from the neck to the arm are stretched during delivery, often when a baby's shoulder is slow to pass. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that many mild cases improve, while more severe ones may need therapy or surgery. Cleveland Clinic adds that a baby may hold the arm still or show little movement in the arm or hand.
Other problems families ask about include bleeding inside or around a newborn's brain, skull or collarbone fractures (many of which heal well), and infections such as group B strep (GBS), which can lead to blood infection or meningitis in a newborn. Mothers can also be hurt: heavy bleeding after delivery (hemorrhage), tears, infection and anesthesia complications are among the issues families raise. All of this is general medical information, not a statement about any particular birth at this hospital.
Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months
In the first days, parents and nurses watch for trouble breathing, a weak or high-pitched cry, unusual sleepiness, a baby who is very floppy or very stiff, seizures (jerking, lip smacking, staring spells), poor sucking or swallowing, and a low temperature or fever. An arm that stays still at the baby's side, or a baby who cries when one shoulder or collarbone is touched, should be mentioned to the care team right away.
In the weeks and months that follow, the signs are often about development. The CDC lists head lag when the baby is lifted, stiffness or floppiness, arching of the back and neck, and stiff, scissoring legs in babies under six months. After six months, signs can include not rolling over, difficulty bringing the hands together or to the mouth, or using only one hand. Later, lopsided crawling or scooting on the bottom can be a clue. Some children without CP show similar signs, so a professional evaluation is important.
Trust your instincts. If you feel something is not right, write down what you see, take short videos, and ask your pediatrician for a referral. Early evaluation helps your child whether or not a legal claim is ever made, and a delay in diagnosis is common because many signs only show as a child grows.
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Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim?
A birth is a team effort, and more than one person or company may be involved in a review. Depending on the facts, that may include the hospital and its labor and delivery nurses and staff, the obstetrician, a midwife, an anesthesiologist, a neonatologist or pediatrician, and the medical group that employs them. Whether a particular person may be responsible is a question for an expert review of the records, not something that can be assumed.
One important detail is who employs each person. Some doctors are employees of the hospital or its health system. Others are independent physicians or belong to a separate medical group, even though they work inside the hospital. If your doctor did not work for the hospital, that does not end the conversation; it simply means different parties may need to be looked at. Your records usually show who was involved.
Because Hillcrest is a University of California hospital, a public entity, claims involving the hospital itself follow special rules, including a short written claim requirement for public hospitals, and the California legal sections below explain these in more detail. Claims involving independent doctors may follow different timelines. This is one of the main reasons not to wait.
How an independent expert review of a delivery works
An independent review starts with the records. The reviewer, usually a lawyer working with physicians, looks at the mother's prenatal and labor chart, the baby's chart, and the NICU notes. Key items often include the fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heart rate during labor, the Apgar scores at one and five minutes, and umbilical cord blood gas results, which show how much oxygen the baby had at birth.
Medical experts, such as obstetricians, neonatologists, nurses and pediatric neurologists, then read the records to answer specific questions. What did the monitoring show, and when? How did the team respond, and how quickly? Do the brain MRI and the baby's early course fit with an injury around birth, or with something that started earlier in pregnancy? Many reviews end with the finding that the care was reasonable or that the cause cannot be tied to the delivery, and that is an honest and useful answer too.
A review does not mean a lawsuit. It is a way to get informed answers before deciding what, if anything, to do. Under California law a health care provider must receive written notice before a medical malpractice suit is filed, and that step is one reason a review is best started early.
What to do now after a birth injury: step by step
First, take care of your child and yourself. Keep every appointment, follow the therapy plan, and ask your doctors to explain the diagnosis in plain words. Second, request the records. Ask for both the mother's chart and the baby's chart, and ask specifically for the fetal monitoring strips, the delivery summary, the NICU records and any imaging. The records section below explains how to ask Hillcrest.
Third, write down a timeline while you remember it: when labor started, when you arrived, who you saw, what you were told, and when your baby first needed help. Keep bills, insurance letters and Medi-Cal or CCS paperwork in one folder. Fourth, do not sign releases or settlement papers from any insurer without understanding them first.
Fifth, talk with a lawyer early. The deadlines in California are strict, and for a public hospital such as a University of California hospital, a written claim must be presented within a short window, so the six-month claim for public hospitals is the main reason to act fast. A lawyer can explain which deadlines apply to your family, and a first conversation usually costs nothing, though you should always ask about fees before you agree to anything.
Support for your child while the case is reviewed
Your child does not have to wait for a legal answer to get help. Early Start is California's program for babies and toddlers under 3 who have, or may be at risk for, a developmental delay. It can include physical, occupational and speech therapy, often at home. The San Diego Regional Center, which serves San Diego County, handles Early Start intake, and no income test is required.
Children with a qualifying medical condition may also be eligible for California Children's Services (CCS) and Medi-Cal, which can help pay for specialists, equipment and therapy. Your pediatrician, the hospital's social worker or case manager, and the regional center can help you apply. Nothing here is a promise of any particular benefit, since eligibility depends on your family's situation.
Many families also find it helps to connect with other parents of children with the same diagnosis. Whatever you decide about a legal claim, getting your child evaluated and supported as early as possible is one of the most important things you can do.
UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first
Because UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center is a University of California hospital (operated by UC San Diego Health (The Regents of the University of California)), a claim for an injury at birth usually has to start with a written government claim, not a lawsuit. This is the single most important deadline on this page.
Many California babies are born at county or University of California hospitals: LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA, Riverside University Health System, Arrowhead Regional, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Davis and others. These are public entities, and the Government Claims Act applies. Under Government Code § 911.2, a written claim for injury or death must be presented to the public entity within six months of the injury, before any lawsuit. If the claim is rejected in writing, Government Code § 945.6 gives six months from that notice to file suit. The child’s longer deadline under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 does not replace this six-month claim, so families with a public-hospital birth should act right away.
California gives a child’s birth-injury case its own deadline. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5, a minor must sue within three years of the wrongful act, but a child who was under six when it happened has until his or her eighth birthday if that is longer. For a baby hurt during labor or delivery, that usually means the eighth birthday. The clock runs from the act itself, not from the day the family learned what went wrong, and it is paused only in narrow cases of fraud or collusion. Parents’ own claims, and claims against a public hospital, can have much shorter deadlines, so it is safer to get advice early.
What MICRA caps — and what it does not
California’s MICRA law limits one part of a medical malpractice recovery. Under Civil Code § 3333.2, as amended by AB 35, non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) are capped. In 2026 the cap is $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death, and it rises every January 1 ($40,000 and $50,000 a year until 2033, then 2% a year). Separate caps can apply to doctors, hospitals and unaffiliated providers. Economic damages are not capped: lifetime medical care, therapy, equipment, home modifications and lost earning capacity can be recovered in full, and in a birth-injury case they are usually the largest part of the claim.
How to get the delivery records from UC San Diego Health Hillcrest
California law gives families a right to these records. Under Health and Safety Code § 123110, a patient or the patient’s personal representative — for a baby, a parent or guardian (§ 123105) — may inspect the records within five working days of a written request and is entitled to a paper or electronic copy, which the provider must send within 15 days after receiving a request that says which records are wanted. For a birth-injury review, ask for both charts: the mother’s labor and delivery record, including the fetal heart rate monitoring strips, and the baby’s newborn and NICU record.
To get records from UC San Diego Health Hillcrest, ask UC San Diego Health's Health Information Management department (Release of Information). According to the system's medical records page, the fastest way is a free request through a MyUCSDChart account, with records usually delivered within about three business days. Without an account, an online request form for a patient's representative is available (it does not include radiology or X-ray records and may carry a fee of up to $6.50), or you can mail a signed Authorization to Release Medical Information with a copy of a photo ID to UC San Diego Health, Attn: Health Information Management, 200 West Arbor Drive, #8825, San Diego, CA 92103, fax it to 619-543-7128, or visit the walk-in office Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The form is also available in Spanish. California law gives families a right to these records. For a baby, a parent or guardian can ask for the baby's chart, and the mother can ask separately for her own. Ask in writing for the fetal heart monitoring strips, the labor and delivery notes, the NICU records and any imaging, and keep a copy of what you send.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from San Diego would be filed
A birth-injury lawsuit from a delivery in San Diego County would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. According to the court's website, the Hall of Justice at 330 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, houses the Civil Independent Calendar courtrooms and the Civil Business Office, which is where larger civil injury cases are generally handled. Because Hillcrest is a public hospital, a written claim to the public entity has to come before any lawsuit. Your lawyer will confirm the right court and the right steps for your family.
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego – Hall of Justice (Civil Independent Calendar) → — 330 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Help for your child now: Early Start in San Diego County
Early Start is California's early intervention program for babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 with a developmental delay or a condition that puts them at risk. In San Diego County, the San Diego Regional Center (4355 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123, 858-576-2996) handles Early Start intake. According to its website, no financial qualification is required. To ask for an evaluation, call the regional center directly, say that your child is under 3 and you are worried about their development, and mention any diagnosis or NICU stay. You do not need a lawsuit, and you do not need to wait for a final diagnosis. Your pediatrician can help, but a parent can also make the call.
Key facts
- UC San Diego Health Hillcrest at 200 West Arbor Drive in San Diego offers labor and delivery and, according to its own website, a Level II Intermediate NICU.
- According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), it cared for 581 newborns in its newborn nursery and had 93 NICU discharges that year.
- Hillcrest is a University of California hospital, which is a public entity, so a short written claim to the public hospital is required before any lawsuit.
- You have a right to the mother's chart and your baby's chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, and you can ask for them through the hospital's Health Information Management department.
- Your child can get Early Start therapy through the San Diego Regional Center without waiting for any legal answer.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against UC San Diego Health Hillcrest?
Families can ask whether a claim is possible after a delivery at any hospital, including this one. Whether there is a valid claim depends on what the records and an independent medical review show, not on the injury alone. Many cases end with the finding that care was reasonable. A lawyer can arrange the review and explain your options.
How long do I have to file a birth-injury claim?
California gives a child's birth-injury case its own deadline, which is longer than for most injuries, but the parents' own claims can have much shorter deadlines. Claims against a public hospital also require an earlier written claim. Because the rules are strict and vary by situation, it is safest to get advice early rather than wait.
Is UC San Diego Health Hillcrest a public hospital?
Yes. The state's hospital report lists the type of control as University of California, with The Regents of the University of California as parent organization. That makes it a public entity, so the Government Claims Act applies and a written claim of about six months must be presented before a lawsuit. The child's longer deadline does not replace that claim.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
Many doctors who deliver babies in hospitals are independent or belong to a separate medical group. A claim may involve the doctor, the group, the hospital or all of them, and the deadlines can differ for each. Your records and a medical review help show who was involved, so ask a lawyer early.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from UC San Diego Health Hillcrest?
Send a written request to the Health Information Management department, through MyUCSDChart, the online request form, or by mail or fax to 200 West Arbor Drive, #8825, San Diego, CA 92103 (fax 619-543-7128). Ask by name for the fetal heart monitoring strips, labor notes, NICU records and imaging. California law lets a parent or guardian request the baby's records.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer about a birth injury?
Many birth-injury lawyers offer a free first conversation and take cases on a contingency basis, meaning no fee unless there is a recovery. Always ask about fees and costs in writing before you sign anything. Talking to a lawyer does not commit you to filing a claim.
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Other San Diego County hospitals we cover
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital · Jacobs Medical Center, La Jolla · Kaiser Permanente San Diego · Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla · Palomar Medical Center Escondido · Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center · Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego · Sharp Grossmont Hospital · Scripps Memorial Hospital · Kaiser Permanente Medical Center · San Diego birth injury lawyers →
UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in San Diego. We obtain the delivery records, have them reviewed by medical experts and deal with the hospital and its insurer — you focus on your child. You pay no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Cerebral Palsy · Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injury · HIE / Oxygen Deprivation at Birth · Statute of Limitations · MICRA Damages Cap · All California hospitals · California birth injury lawyers · Birth injury guides
Sources
- HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report (final, October 2025)
- UC San Diego Health – Giving Birth: Delivery Choices — Labor and delivery offered at Hillcrest; Level II Intermediate NICU at Hillcrest and Level III NICU at Jacobs
- UC San Diego Health – Medical Records — How to request records from Health Information Management: MyUCSDChart, online form, mail, fax, walk-in
- HCAI 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report — Hospital name, address, University of California control, newborn nursery count and NICU beds and discharges for 2024
- Superior Court of California, County of San Diego – Hall of Justice — Address of the Hall of Justice and the Civil Independent Calendar courtrooms
- San Diego Regional Center – Who Is Eligible — Early Start for children from birth to 3 in San Diego and Imperial counties; contact details
- CDC – About Cerebral Palsy — What cerebral palsy is, when it begins, causes and early signs
- NINDS – Brachial Plexus Injury — Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries in newborns
- Cleveland Clinic – Erb's Palsy — Symptoms and causes of Erb's palsy in babies
- National Library of Medicine (PubMed) – Hypothermia therapy for newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy — Cooling therapy for newborn HIE and its timing
- Government Code § 911.2
- Government Code § 945.6
- Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5
- Civil Code § 3333.2 (as amended by AB 35, 2022)
- Health and Safety Code § 123110 (patient access to records)
Beverly Law is an independent law firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center or UC San Diego Health (The Regents of the University of California). Hospital facts on this page come from the public sources listed above.
Important: This page is general information about birth injuries and California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Every case is different — talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No fees or costs unless we win. Last reviewed: 2026-09-18.